Page 5 of All's Fair in Lion and War
The smell of a male was strong around her. But not the scent of any of the Ka’lagh warriors who’d been dragging her through an icy forest all day long.
And it wasn’t as cold any more.
She peeked her eyes open. She was lying on her back staring up at wooden planks. She was inside a structure or dwelling of some sort. And she didn’t recognize anything.
She flexed her arms, surprised to find them loose. She’d been restrained all day to keep her from shifting into her lion form. Beaten a couple of times. Even if she had been free to shift. She was so weak and tired.
She’d learned today that the group that held her captive, their leader—Rivian Ka’lagh—wasn’t traveling with them today.
Rivian was her mate’s fiercest rival…and brother.
The war between the Ka’lagh brothers was a thing of legend on Reylea and her mate’s brother was feared among most lion tribes. His tribe was cruel and killed anyone who didn’t join their ranks.
She knew Rivian.
Had met Rivian.
But she didn’t remember traveling with him yesterday like the men had said. She didn’t remember anything about arriving in this strange cold world. When she’d awoken this morning, she hadn’t recognized anything. Known anyone.
Her mind was swimming in confusion. Why could she remember being home yesterday?
The men this morning had treated her with indifference. Like she was a lowly prisoner instead of a queen. How had the Ka’lagh managed to get her? And now, in this place with thisotherlion male, she was free of her bonds.
Was leaving her loose a trick?
He’d been a massive male, easily the size of her mate’s lion. Equal to Rivian’s beast as well. This warrior was from a strong line. Bigger than any of the others who’d been dragging her along today.
She scooted over on the large cushioned object she’d been placed on.
Her arm hurt a lot, it was still out of joint from when those males had hog-tied her to stop and make camp for the night.
Even with her lion’s strength, it wouldn’t have mattered, with her arms wrenched out of place she hadn’t been able to budge the ties at all. And shifting was out of the question, unless she didn’t want to be able to walk for a week.
Her glance flew to the small window nearby. It was still night. Not too much time could’ve passed. She needed to find a way to get back to Tallix.
A soft glow from a metal box filled with fire in front of her. A long black pipe stretched from the box all the way to the ceiling.
The only other light in the dwelling came from a couple of candles sitting on a table on the other side of the room.
She lifted her useless arm and pressed it tightly to her chest, gritting her teeth through the pain. Where was the male who had set her free? Where had he come from? Why had he saved her?
The clump of heavy feet drew her attention to the back of the cabin.
The back door opened and the huge man walked in. He had long blonde hair with many braids trailing halfway down his back, head shaved on the sides, similar but not exactly like Rivian and his crew. Each pride had their own way of styling their hair.
He was obviously Reylean, but she didn’t know him.
The most frightening thing about him was the white glow radiating from his skin.
No. No. No.
It couldn’t be. He couldn’t be a potential mate. That’s not how Fate worked.
She had a mate. She had a husband. A king.
She was queen of La’Tar—a vast continent on Reylea—revered among all lion tribes.
None of this made sense.
